Chapter 478: Uncounted For Company.
A path opened from within a tree, and two individuals walked through it. One was a large man wearing a mithril suit of armor with a magical robe over it. A step behind him was a blonde female student. Her head was down, and she was deep in thought, just like the man walking in front of her.
“Am I doing the right thing?”
The man asked himself while looking at the magical path closing behind them. He was at a crossroads that led in two directions. One path would involve confronting the De Vere family directly and potentially exposing his hidden identity to everyone involved. It was a path he had been trying to avoid for over ten years, yet somehow it always found its way back.
The other path would take him back home but would inevitably sever the connections he had reestablished with his family. The sister with whom he had managed to rekindle a relationship would certainly not forgive him if he decided to escape now. She might seek revenge later or even inform their father about his transgression. This possibility made the decision even harder.
However, he was no longer the weak individual he had been when he left on this journey. Roland was now also armed with his newfound authority as a Deputy Professor and the powerful reputation of the Institute. There were ways for him to protect his old identity and instead present himself as his new persona, Wayland. By using his sister as an excuse, he could attempt to resolve problems in a somewhat roundabout way.
"Hm?"
"Is something wrong?"
"No, but... I'll have to catch up with you later. Why don't you head back to the dorm and prepare for the trip?"
While they were walking, Roland noticed his badge vibrating with a hidden mana signature. This badge could open almost any door inside the institute, but it also connected him to its leader, Yavenna. He wasn’t sure what the woman wanted, but it wouldn’t be strange to assume that she knew about his situation.